An Expositional Sermon
There is always an opportunity to turn from your sin and put your trust in Christ alone. When you are tempted to lust after another person you always have the opportunity to flee. When your heart is tempted by pornography you can always walk away. When you are lying, you always have the opportunity to stop and tell the truth. When you have stolen something or cheated on a test you always have the opportunity to return it and confess. While we have life, there is time to turn from sin and put our hope in Christ, but there will come a time when we won’t have the opportunity. This text is describing a gracious God who gives room for the repentance of His people. God is just, but He desires our repentance, turning from our rebellion and sin: Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you [some ms your account], not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 1 Timothy 2:4 “[God our Savior] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God’s grace is powerfully able to save the worst of sinners, but if we continually reject God’s calling us to turn to Him while there is time, we are exposing ourselves to eternal wrath.